Shelby Adams Block 1

Domestic Abuse What causes more deaths than cancer and traffic incidents? Domestic abuse. Domestic abuse is most often spousal and occurs when one partner attempts to be dominant over the other(Smith and Segal). Abuse is the third leading cause of homelessness among families(Safe Horizon). Controlling the outbreak of abuse is something the government needs to consider. The stats are constantly rising and more victims are being killed. If abuse was reported it would be much easier to control, but once it is reported what can be done to help victims get back on their feet? Domestic abuse is a growing issue in the United States. 1 in 3 women worldwide will experience partner violence(Soraya Chemaly). Abuse primarily happens in context of the home. Although abuse is not always physical, often the emotional abuse is a gateway to something more physical. There is a 270% increase in the likelihood that a woman will die a violent death if a gun is present in the house(Soraya Chemaly). Three women daily in the US are murdered by their husbands or boyfriend(Cook). The largest problem among abuse victims in the United States is they do not report it. Abusers can use intimidation, guilt, and shame to keep control over their victims(Smith and Segal). Its estimated that one in three women worldwide will experience partner violence at one point in their lives(Soraya Chemaly). Its not only emotional and physical abuse that is a problem in homes, sexual abuse is also growing issue.
Not only is it a growing problem, but there is many different causes behind abuse. Abuse can be caused by high levels of stress, and it getting taken out on the wrong person. Men who were abused are significantly more likely to abuse their spouse in the future. Creating a cycle of abusers and abuse that

never stops. Emotional abuse could possibly be a bigger problem, because it breaks the victim down destroying their self worth and causing depression(Smith and Segal). Victims of emotional abuse are often so dependant on their abuser they dont know how to live apart from them. The abuser makes it clear they are dominant, making the victim completely submissive. There is no way to permanently stop abuse. If the punishment was more severe, more people might think twice before becoming violent their partners. As many as 1 in 5 teenage girls who have been in a relationship said their boyfriend threatened violence or self harm if a breakup is possible( Cook). If the punishments for abuse became more severe, hopefully less abuse would occur, or more would be reported knowing their abuser will be punished. Although it is always wrong, there is different levels of abuse. To determine how severe the punishment they should be put in front of a jury, and all abusers should face jail time.

Aside from just a more harsh punishment, educating kids on how it occurs and how wrong it is could identify abuse in homes and stop it from happening in their future. If abuse was happening in their home, or the home of their peers they would be more likely to notice when educated on what to look for. This could be a key point to prevention and identifying problems because abuse affects children too. We have learned kids who are around abuse are often quiet in school, don't participate in their peers activities,and lower scores in school than a child not exposed to abuse. They are also much more likely to abuse in their future if they have been abused themselves as a child(Child welfare...). Creating the cycle of abuse and abusers. Even if we had more harsh punishments and taught children how to identify the signs, doctors can be the best at identifying these situations.The cost of partner abuse in the US exceeds $5.8 billion per year(Cook). But in most cases a doctor visit only occurs they are hurt enough to seek out medical attention. Although you are supposed to get a check-up yearly, often victims of abuse refuse to go for their check ups for fear doctors will pick up on what is happening at home.

Doctors however are not allowed to report it without the victim's permission, but if they are at least confronted about their situation victims may be more willing to consider making a report. If it were to become mandatory that you need a yearly check up to keep your health insurance more cases would be identified. The largest issue with making it mandatory is if a victim were to go without health insurance and really need medical attention they would be unable to get it. 92% of homeless women state they had been abused and did not report it(Soraya Chemaly). If more cases were reported the rate for deaths due to domestic abuse may drop significantly. 32,000 jobs are lost in the US each year due to intimate partner violence(Soraya Chemaly). Victims are able to learn there is help out there and that they can get through it. It was estimated that there was more women killed domestic abuse cases than men in Iraq and Afghanistan(Soraya Chemaly). 3 women in the United States are killed daily by their partners(Cook). If more victims seek help the likelihood for repeating abuse would significantly decrease. The third leading cause of homeless head of home is reported abuse, which happens when the victim has the abuser removed from the home(Safe Horizon). The toll abuse takes on the workplace due to missed days is resulting in a legal leave from work. There is now laws out in a few states giving abused women a chance to get time off due to abuse. The New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act(NJ SAFE Act) is one of the most recent laws created. Victims must have a police report filed, a standing restraining order, and a doctors note. The law applies to all employees with 25 or more employees, within a year of incident. Victims get 20 days off to get collect themselves when they have reported abuse before returning to work. NJ SAFE Act allows up to 20 days of unpaid leave during a 12-month period. Victims with health insurance are able to get psychological help when on leave.(John Mcdonald)

Even though we think that abuse is only between men and women, abuse happens just as frequently between same sex couples. Since they are both the same sex it starts when one decides they want to be the man of the relationship. It's most likely more difficult to report an incident between same sex couples, when some have not yet come out to family and friends. Abuse also happens often in all different racial marriages of all ages. As a teenager in high school, you have a 1 in 3 chance of ending up in an abusive relationship(Soraya Chemaly). Although most teen relationships are emotional abuse. The best solution to prevention and identification of abuse in homes would be raising the punishments due to abuse in homes. 10,000,000 children experience domestic violence a day(Soraya Chemaly). This number is much higher than it has been in past years. If we were to make domestic abuse a felony, always requiring jail time, hopefully less abusers would let themselves loose control enough to get violent with their partner. It would also be less likely for them to abuse again for fear of going back to jail. Although the outcome will be different with every case. To a victim, the abuse they are subjected to is an extremely touchy subject. Abuse can be caused by many things such as stress, or previous abuse. There are many possible solutions to abuse such as higher punishment, more education, and required yearly check ups. Reporting abuse could become easier if there is a higher punishment such as the abuser spending some time in jail to consider how their partner was treated. Laws such as the NJ SAFE Act are making it much easier for victims to get time off of work to recover with the proper criteria. Instead of watching the stats on abuse go up, lets make them go down.

Works Cited Chemaly, Soraya. "50 Facts About Domestic Violence." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 30 Nov. 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. Domestic Violence Statistics. "Domestic Violence Statistics." Domestic Violence Statistics. N.p., 2012. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. Information Gateway, Child Welfare. "Domestic Violence and the Child Welfare System." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Bulletins for Professionals, 2009. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. Mcdonald, John. "Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault, NJ Becomes The Latest To Provide Leave For Victimized Employees." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 26 Sept. 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. Safe Horizon. "Domestic Violence: Statistics & Facts." Safe Horizon ::. N.p., 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. Smith, Melinda, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. "Domestic Violence and Abuse." : Signs of Abuse and Abusive Relationships. Help Guide, July 201. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.